UFO, abbreviation for Ultrasonic Frequency Controller, is a performance MIDI controller designed to change your livesets for good. It allows you to control music software and external synthesizers with simple hand gestures. It looks like you’re playing a weird Theremin but you can do a lot more with the UFO.

Watch the video below to see what you can do with the UFO and Ableton Live.

The UFO controller uses five ultrasonic sensors and its functionality is based on distance detection. The vertical movement of your hand above any of the sensors is converted to standard MIDI data. Just move your hand up and down above a distance sensor to create beautiful and complex musical patterns.

Airkey mode allows you to use UFO to send MIDI notes. You can use it like a virtual air keyboard while at same time controlling your synth parameters and effects with the Control mode that sends MIDI CC messages. So the UFO is perfectly suited for both music creators and performers. The colored LED lights indicate the mode of each sensor.

Airkey mode can be locked into various keys and scales (including chromatic, diminished, major and minor scales). So it’s easy to be instantly creative with different scales and even jam with your band. The device automatically plots a six octaves range of scaled keys for the five sensors. So whenever you play the device, it is perfectly tuned to some key and scale.

The UFO Controller is a standalone MIDI controller. Because it sends standard MIDI control data, it can also be used to control VJ applications, visual installations and much more.

No kidding – it is indeed an Arduino based MIDI controller. Currently the prototype unit is using single Arduino Mega 2560 board as the heart of the device.

The project is in development. The first prototype (called “Wave-o-Matic”) was finished and presented earlier in 2012 and the work continues. My aim is to have the source code and building instructions available for the device later in 2014.

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The UFO controller project is the topic of my MA thesis work in the Media Lab of Aalto University. It is currently an Arduino based prototype that is in development. The work on the project started in the beginning of 2012.

My name is Tommi Koskinen and I’m a musician, sound designer and media artist from Helsinki, Finland. The UFO has totally changed the way I perform and create music nowadays and that’s why I really want to take the project further as I think many other musicians will feel the same way about it. I’ve already played dozens of gigs with the controller with my two bands Phantom and Kitkaliitto.

“I've noticed the problem that when artists present electronic music live it is usually rather boring and unexpressive. With this device I wanted to create a controller for electronic music live performance that allows you to truly perform the music. The UFO has opened up all kinds of interesting ways of performing. The controller gives a very clear visual feedback for both the audience and the artist.”